Just realized you posted that it was a 3 cylinder in the first post... There were several car companies in China making 3 cylinder cars a few years ago - we did Geely's engine management system for a few 3 cylinder models back in 2007. The valves (rockers) would need adjustment pretty frequently, though.

The main reasons they don't sell Chinese cars in the US are:
1) No engine management system company wants to get them up to OBD2 and Tier 2 bin 5 emissions, cheaply enough
2) DOT standards require modifications for this and that
3) smart airbag systems needed
4) fit and finish & styling are just so so
5) no dealer network, yet
6) no testing done in the US, yet
7) crash tests will be embarrassing and expensive to remedy

The list can go on a bit more, but these are the big ones. One of my company's new investors is going to give it a try (so far has had 2 car companies start the project and then back out).

There are some vehicles making it to the US, I think - some small mini-vans and mini-trucks for places like airports. Also, the shuanghuan noble is being used for an electric car conversion. That's one that looks just like a Smart.

I had to pull the head. I discovered the real reason the engine was knocking while I was getting ready to reassemble the bottom end. The original crank looked good, and I didn't understand why it knocked. Now I know..

It must have hydrolocked while running upside down in a ditch... The piston was smacking the crankshaft. Everything about this engine screams quality. I didn't think to check the bent rod to see if it was forged or cast before my customer scurried off to Deere, but if it didn't break, it must be a quality forging.

What is the cheapest, small 5-speed stick or whatever, 2-dr., hatch type car sold in the USA today?

I would buy a NEW 1987 Chevy Sprint ER el-cheapo car in a NYM, it was THAT good a little commuter corn-popper car, IMHO...

Over 50 mpg running 70 mph on the 4-lane commuting for years and years and years! I paid $6,300 plus tax and crap back when I bought mine new! Of course, it only weighed like 1500 pounds or so! But I packed my tore apart 454 P/U truck engine home in it.

crazyman wrote:If a competent guy with a frame machine can do it locally, yes. If not, Deere sells new frames. Either way it's fixable at $18K new and being a 2011 with 30 hours. I doubt it even survived long enough to get its first oil change.